Plans to make Laguna Beach’s Promenade on Forest a destination feature will likely be determined by a design competition involving several firms, city officials decided Tuesday, Jan. 23.
The promenade conceived of more than three years ago as a lifeline for restaurants and shops during the pandemic, has been a temporary setup, with the council deciding in 2021 to make the location on Forest Avenue permanent.
Since its conception, the focus has shifted from helping retailers and restaurants with an outdoor space to survive the pandemic to making the lower stretch of Forest Avenue – starting at Main Beach – a community gathering spot and a place for music, street art, and performances. The idea for the plaza is to enhance Laguna Beach’s downtown while maintaining its character and turning the promenade into a destination for locals and visitors.
In 2022, the city held a survey after hiring a design firm to get public input on what the permanent setup should look like. Two more workshops were held, with the most recent in May. In July, the city’s Planning Commission considered two design options. The City Council reviewed those on Tuesday but unanimously agreed neither option was ideal and decided more input was needed.
Mayor Sue Kempf and Councilmember Mark Orgill were tapped to work with city staffers to develop options to better fit the council’s and community’s desires for the promenade. After 90 days, the two will report back with a new plan that includes opening the project to a design competition and hopefully drawing more options. The city has budgeted $2.7 million for the project so far. Construction on the new plaza design could start after the summer of 2025 once the Planning Commission and council review it and it meets other entitlements and requirements.
The temporary promenade, prompted by Kempf as a solution during the pandemic, was put together in a month and needs to be rethought and refreshed, officials said, including adding some…
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